Digital signatures use cryptographic techniques to verify the identity of a signer and ensure the integrity of a document hasn't changed after signing. Digital certificates, issued by trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs), securely link a person or entity to a public key, enabling others to trust the signature. Exporting with such signatures means embedding this verified signature data directly into the digital file you save or send.

Common examples include exporting critical contracts or legally binding agreements as digitally signed PDFs using Adobe Acrobat. Software developers often export and sign executable code packages like EXE or MSI files before distribution to prove their origin and prevent tampering. Many business software platforms, including Adobe and Microsoft tools, support this workflow.

This method provides strong verification and non-repudiation, significantly enhancing document security and trust compared to unsigned exports. However, proper validation requires the recipient's system to trust the signer's certificate, requiring PKI infrastructure or web trust. Adoption is growing as digital transactions increase, driven by the need for security and legal compliance.